Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-18
BUILDING THE CITY.
Rock Islands Gradual Advancement
Within the Past Year--What Little
Thinys .iA---SOme SugsestiOns.

| took it is the path that has been pursued
by everyone since who has essayed the
same task, that is to arouse public
sentiment in the place, to encourage
progress and to repress the grumhlers
| Under his management Athens reached II
pitch of greatness that has never even
been equalled in any subsequent age
| 1t is because Rock Island has neglected
these plans and manifest rules, that it
has not made greater progress than ii
has in days gone by. Instead of en-
couraging its citizens to invest their
money at home, it has sneered at them TO
acertain extent Marks of enterprise
have been raidicnled by some. Few
| towns in the west have made the money
that Rock Island has. but large portion
of it has gone west to be absorbed in
stock farms, cattle ranches. into gold and
silver mines. into town lots into a
variety of things foreign to the interests
of the city where it was msde and acN
cumulated, and where it should be spent.
Much of this money, We grieve to say, is
there yet, and its owners are Boosting
of western booms, because they have
n little money at stake, and they are
likely to keep it up until crack of doom.
If the money made in Rock Island WAS
invested in Rock Island enterprises.
there is no power under heaven that
could prevent great city growing up
right here. Wealth does not grow on
| the bushes in the west anymore than 1t
does anywhere else. Money like nature,
| must.either cease, OF increase and grow.
and Rock Island affords as healthy a
climate for accommodating money as any
place we know of. We must put forth
our every effort To build up the city, and
while we need not look to outside CAPT
tai to accomplish the work, we should
always encourage it. and If our own citi-
zens are indifferent to the rity's welfare,
then there should be a movement to in
troduce some new stock. We have the
| location here. and there is no reason why
we should not have the city.
There is another thing that should be
| attended to in order to give visitors in
the city proper impressions. At the first
meeting of the Committee of Twenty it
was decided to appeal to our citizens to
paint their houses aud fix up their prem
ises as far AS possible. This suggestion,
| it is pleasure to observe, has been gen
orally adhered to all over the city.
Scarcely a day has passed of late that
the ARGUS has not called attention to
some noticeable improve ment. Business
blocks and private residences have been
| painted. and this manifestation of pub
lie spirit has been shown in vari
the new tile walk which is being laid
the entire length of Mr.. G. J. Darts prop
erty on Twenty first street, the fine walk
which Judge Peasants has put down in
front of his Second avenue residence are
always worthy of notice and approval.
Many new houses are going up in differ
ent parts of the city Up on Eighteenth
street for instance, Mr.. Al Wilson is
putting up So 900 residence All these
things go TO show confidence in the city s
future, and all contribute to make up d
brighter prospect.
The citizen of means however. who al
lows to be maintained upon property be
longing to him near the heart of The city,
public nuisance has not the city's in
terests at heart There is AT present
abundance of idle property within ten
minutes walk Of the post office, wherein
houses might and should be erected and all
of them would command tenants AS 500 n
as under roof. Al the present time there
could be no more profitable outlay to
the investor or easier way of accomplish
ing public deed than in building such
houses. The demand is urgent and IN
less the Committee of Twenty IS success
full in its aims to satisfy this want PEG
pie will go elsewhere, who ought to To-
cate in Rock Island.
Rock Island is growing. Within very
short period two new industries, the
Silver Plating Works, of Galeshurg, and
the Cutlery Works, of Rockford. have
located here, and have profiled by the
removal And there are prospects
bright prospects too-of other manufact>
uring enterprises coming # the right
inducements are offered The commits
tee, which the Committee of Twenty APP
pointed to secure the Atchison. Topeka
& Santa Fe road, have duties TO perform
which will not permit of delay. Unless
this matter is attended to the road on its
northern extension will be crossing the
river at Muscatine instead of Rock Island
The citizens there are putting forth
every possible effort to get the road
across the river at that point, and have
offered many tempting Inducements,
The fire of enthusiasm kindled in Rock
Island upon the approach of the sur
veyors should not be allowed TO die rs
soon as the surveyors are gone. This
committee has responsibilities which must
not be neglected,
The Wichita Way.
A Wichita real estate dealer sends To-